[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1116 Introduced in House (IH)]

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1116

      To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide 
  comprehensive audiology services to Medicare beneficiaries, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 26, 2015

    Mr. Bilirakis (for himself and Mr. Butterfield) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
  Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a 
 period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
                          committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
      To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide 
  comprehensive audiology services to Medicare beneficiaries, and for 
                            other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Medicare Audiology Services 
Enhancement Act of 2015''.

SEC. 2. COMPREHENSIVE AUDIOLOGY SERVICES FOR MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES.

    (a) In General.--Section 1861 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395x) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (s)(2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (EE), by striking ``and'' at 
                the end;
                    (B) in subparagraph (FF), by adding ``and'' at the 
                end; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraph:
                    ``(GG) audiology services (as defined in subsection 
                (ll)(3));''; and
            (2) by amending paragraph (3) of subsection (ll) to read as 
        follows:
    ``(3) The term `audiology services' means only the following 
services furnished by a qualified audiologist as the audiologist is 
legally authorized to perform under State law (or the State regulatory 
mechanism provided by State law), pursuant to an order or referral by a 
physician, as would otherwise be covered if furnished by a physician:
            ``(A) Hearing and balance assessment services.
            ``(B) Auditory treatment services, including auditory 
        processing and auditory rehabilitation treatment.
            ``(C) Vestibular treatment services.
            ``(D) Intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring 
        services.''.
    (b) Payment Under Part B Under Physician Fee Schedule for 
Comprehensive Audiology Services.--Section 1848(j)(3) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395w-4(j)(3)) is amended by inserting 
``(2)(GG),'' before ``(3),''.
    (c) Audiology Services Performed in Hospitals Excluded From 
Inpatient Hospital Services.--Section 1861(b)(4) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(b)(4)) is amended by striking ``and services of a 
certified registered nurse anesthetist'' and inserting ``services of a 
certified registered nurse anesthetist, and inter-operative 
neurophysiological monitoring provided by a physician or qualified 
audiologist (as defined in subsection (ll)(4)(B))''.
    (d) Requirements of Service.--Section 1835(a)(2) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395n(a)(2)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and (D)'' and 
        inserting ``(D), and (GG)'';
            (2) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (E);
            (3) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (F) 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (4) by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following new 
        subparagraph:
                    ``(G) in the case of outpatient audiology services, 
                (i) such services are or were required because the 
                individual needed the specialized services of a 
                physician or qualified audiologist to furnish such 
                audiology services, (ii) a plan of care for furnishing 
                such services has been established by the physician or 
                qualified audiologist and is submitted to and 
                periodically reviewed by the referring or ordering 
                physician, and (iii) such services are or were 
                furnished while the individual is or was under the care 
                of a physician.''.
    (e) Audiology Services Included as Designated Health Services for 
Purposes of Limitation on Certain Physician Referrals.--Section 
1877(h)(6) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395nn(h)(6)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(M) Audiology services (as defined in section 
                1861(ll)(3)).''.
    (f) Participation in Medicare.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to require a qualified audiologist (as defined in section 
1861(ll)(4)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(ll)(4)(B))) 
to participate in the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.).
    (g) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to services furnished on or after January 1, 2016.
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